What is Instagram Live?

About two years ago, Instagram began adding significant “parts” to their app. At one point, when Facebook acquired Instagram, Instagram was just a photo community app. People would post photos, and other people could see those photos on their newsfeeds.

It was brilliant, and was revolutionary to social media.

Then, Instagram introduced video to the newsfeed, which allowed people to not only post photos, but to also post one minute videos.

All within the newsfeed.

At that point in time, Instagram didn’t have what I consider to be “parts” or “sections.”

Since then, and in addition to the newsfeed, Instagram has added Instagram Stories, which is a lot like Snapchat (only a lot better), Instagram Live, and most recently, IGTV.

So, in a sense, Instagram is an app that has 4 different major areas of play, and arguably only 3 areas of play because, technically, IGTV is it’s own app that works with the Instagram app to provide a unique video experience for creators and consumers of content.

Regarding Instagram Live, Instagram Live is a part of the Instagram app that allows people to go live and share their message with the world.

Anyone can go live, anytime. And anyone in the world can watch, although usually your live videos will only be consumed by people who already follow you.

Instagram Live allows you to go live for one hour, and it allows you to bring in audience members or guests into your video so you can talk to them, face to face, in real time.

Of course, the audience can participate by leaving comments which you can respond to, directly.

Videos are broadcast as vertical video, meaning if you were holding your phone upright, as opposed to sideways. Live video broadcasts can be saved to your phone or mobile device under certain circumstances, or they can be discarded.

If the video is saved, it will be on Instagram for 24 hours, at which time it disappears forever.

Why Use Instagram Live?

Here’s the thing - I personally got my start online with live video. I love live video. And when I got started in live video, breaking all the barriers and putting on awesomely-produced broadcasts were what I strived to do.

Putting on a broadcast is easy on Instagram Live. You hit the “live” button and...you’re live. If you have a signal, you can go live. Anywhere. Anytime. With just a phone.

This is unlike what I’ve trained myself to do, that takes a lot of time getting set up and dialing in a lot of different things, Instagram Live offers something as powerful but that allows you to go live with much less friction.

Instagram is the fastest growing social media platform that exists, and wherever you are, wherever you look, people are using Instagram.

No other platform has people’s attention in the sense that Instagram does. And it’s because Instagram is that easy.

Instagram Live makes sense for every brand, business, venture, or whatever, on the planet.

How You Can Use Instagram Live For Your Business

Examples of how you can use Instagram Live for your business include:

Launching a new product

Make announcements that are relevant to your customers

Q&A sessions

Discuss your industry / niche

Have discussions with your audience

Have discussions with others you bring into the broadcast

Behind the scenes of your business

Share ‘slices of life’ with your crowd

It's Time to Get Started!

As you can see, Instagram Live offers you a lot of potential to quickly and easily get your message out to the world in a place that makes it easy for the audience to consume the content you are creating.

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